WASHINGTON—Work to create a global technical regulation for light vehicle tires continues under the auspices of the World Forum for the Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said.
The World Forum, also known as WP-29, is a subsidiary of the Inland Transport Committee of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, NHTSA said in an April 9 Federal Register notice.
Light vehicle tires are among several categories being addressed by international working groups within WP-29, NHTSA said. Work on a global technical regulation for vehicle tires began in September 2006, it said.
The regulation, according to the agency, would apply to radial passenger and light truck tires designed to be used on vehicles with a gross weight of 10,000 pounds or less. The five mandatory performance and labeling requirements for the standard include sidewall markings, tire dimensions, high-speed performance, low pressure and endurance performance, and wet grip performance, it said.
"In addition, there are two optional modules, with one containing a tire strength and bead unseating resistance test and the second containing a tire rolling sound emission test," NHTSA said.
The working group decided early on that it had to split the work on tire standard harmonization into two phases, according to NHTSA. The first phase concentrates solely on passenger and light truck tires;